Prevention

Information on protecting your home from burglary

The following advice from police.uk details just a few steps that can make a big difference in keeping your home safe from burglary:

Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you're just out in the garden, remembering to double-lock UPVC doors (lift handle and turn key).
Hide all keys, including car keys, out of sight and away from the letterbox (remember a device could be used to hook keys through the letterbox).
Install a visual burglar alarm and good outside lighting.
Get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property.
Leave radios or lights in your house on a timer to make the property appear occupied.
Make sure the fences around your garden are in good condition.
Secure bikes at home by locking them to an immoveable object inside a locked shed or garage.
Keep ladders and tools stored away; don't leave them outside where they could be used to break into your home.
Ensure side gates are locked to prevent access to the rear of the property and rear fencing is in good repair.
Improve natural surveillance at the front of your property i.e. trim high hedges.
Mark your property with postcode and house number and register your property for free with Immobilise (opens in a new window)
Consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme (opens in a new window)
Remove valuables from view of ground floor windows and store high value items (i.e. jewellery, passports) in a properly secured safe or bank vault.

You can find more information about protecting your home from burglary on Thames Valley Police's website